Recently I've been "blessed" with a connection with a tree service and I can get large amounts of cottonwood, basswood (which ive never burnt before) and other things. I have an owb with forced draft so I can burn about anything even wet stuff mixed (no close neighborz to anger either). I like silver maple for instance...
I am a little lost as to how to process it... And when to say no. Hardwood I'm splitting small 5" dia and flat as possible and 26" approximately so it will season in racks quickly and I can handle the pieces easily once split. Handling the rounds is tough, but the long splits work well with the rack system.
I'd like to bank as much wood as I can, never can get ahead of the seasoning curve and always find myself burning wetish wood.
I can split as long as 28" in my splitter, also have a regular speeco that does up to 24" and tilts, and is a bit faster.
As to when to say no, there is about 2 truckloads of basswood sitting alongside a the road waiting for me in big long straight logs. I'll have to cut and load in the truck by hand possibly by myself. The dumptruck loads of cottonwood are a different story. They can sit and I can use heavy equipment to move them around or pull the splitter right up to it.
Should I cut short and split big? Cut long and split small? What do you do?
I am a little lost as to how to process it... And when to say no. Hardwood I'm splitting small 5" dia and flat as possible and 26" approximately so it will season in racks quickly and I can handle the pieces easily once split. Handling the rounds is tough, but the long splits work well with the rack system.
I'd like to bank as much wood as I can, never can get ahead of the seasoning curve and always find myself burning wetish wood.
I can split as long as 28" in my splitter, also have a regular speeco that does up to 24" and tilts, and is a bit faster.
As to when to say no, there is about 2 truckloads of basswood sitting alongside a the road waiting for me in big long straight logs. I'll have to cut and load in the truck by hand possibly by myself. The dumptruck loads of cottonwood are a different story. They can sit and I can use heavy equipment to move them around or pull the splitter right up to it.
Should I cut short and split big? Cut long and split small? What do you do?